Phillies Defeat Nationals on Howard 14th Inning Walkoff HR
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After 4 extra innings of futility; getting the leadoff man on in all but the 12th inning and coming up empty, and after 3 excellent relief innings tossed by reliever Clay Condrey, 1st baseman Ryan Howard settled the issue in the 14th with a 2 run walk-off homer driving in 2nd baseman Chase Utley who had walked to lead off the inning. Howard’s 28th homer of the season and his 82nd and 83rd RBIs of the season gave the Phillies the win over the Washington Nationals by a 7-5 score. Condrey earned his 4th win without a loss.
In winning, the Phils hung in 5 games behind the NL East leading Mets who defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates. Veteran lefthander Tom Glavine earned his 299th career win in the game. 2nd place Atlanta lost to the San Francisco Giants leaving the Phils a game out of 2nd place..
Phillies lefthander Cole Hamels pitched well enough to win with 7 fine innings leaving with a 4-2 lead.
But after set-up man Ryan Madson was superb in the 8th inning, giving up only a one out single to 2nd baseman Ronnie Belliard, the Nationals pounded reliever Antonio Alfonseca for 3 runs in the 9th to take a 5-4 lead.
With one out in the 9th, leftfielder Ryan Church doubled down the 1st base line. Catcher Ryan Schneider followed by drawing a walk. Pinch-hitter Tony Batista doubled to centerfield scoring Church and advancing Schneider to 3rd base. Alfonseca blew the win for Hamels and was nearly on the hook for a loss.
AP Sports Writer Rob Maadi describes the rest of the Nationals’ 9th inning for Yahoo sports;
Alfonseca left after Tony Batista’s RBI double cut the deficit to 4-3 and put runners on second and third. Mike Zagurski entered to face pinch-hitter Jesus Flores, who ripped a two-run double to put Washington ahead 5-4.
It took shortstop Jimmy Rollins’ dramatic 9th two-out triple which glanced off leftfielder Ryan Church’s glove, and his dash for the plate following Church’s errant throw on the relay to tie the game.
AP’s Rob Maadi describes the earlier part of the game for both teams;
Hamels allowed two runs and six hits, striking out six in seven innings. The All-Star left-hander lost 1-0 to San Diego in his previous start.
Control problems hurt Washington starter Matt Chico in the fourth inning. Shane Victorino doubled to start the inning. Then Chico hit Utley with a pitch and walked Howard to load the bases. After Aaron Rowand fouled out, Pat Burrell walked to force in the tying run. Wes Helms followed with a two-run single to make it 3-1.
Rowand’s two-out double to right in the fifth scored Victorino to give the Phillies a 4-1 lead.
Chico allowed four runs and six hits in 4 2-3 innings.
Belliard’s solo homer leading off the sixth cut it to 4-2. It was the 22nd homer allowed by Hamels this season.
Washington took a 1-0 lead on [Felipe] Lopez’s RBI single in the third.
Nook Logan appeared to take a homer away from Howard in the second inning when he caught the slugger’s towering drive to straightaway center with his back near the fence and glove above it.
In extra innings, the Phils mounted threats in all but the 12 inning before losing pitcher Chris Booker walked Utley to begin the 14th and then left one out in Howard’s wheel-house to end the game.
For the scores, boxscores on all of Wednesday’s games, click here.
In Thursday’s finale, Adam Eaton goes for his 10h win opposed by minor league call-up lefthander John Lannan who starts his first major league game in place of scheduled starter, former Phillies farmhand, Mike Bacsik.
On Friday, the Pittsburgh Pirates come to town for a 3 game weekend series.
For the scores, boxscores on all of Thursday’s games, click here.
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